Meetings Between Federal Oil Ministry and Regional Government: Resuming Oil Exports from Kurdistan
Economic Affairs Expert Insights
On March 16, 2025, economic affairs expert Hevidar Shaaban disclosed that two critical meetings are scheduled between the Federal Ministry of Oil and the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Regional Government. These discussions will include representatives from oil companies operating in the Kurdistan region.
Shaaban noted that the first meeting is set to take place in Baghdad this week, followed by a session in Erbil next week. The objective of these meetings is to address the challenges related to the resumption of oil exports through the Turkish port of Jihan.
Export Concerns and Oil Companies’ Stance
According to Shaaban, the hurdles surrounding oil exports are not solely tied to the federal or regional governments. Instead, the oil companies have indicated they will not resume exports until the outstanding debts owed by the regional government are settled.
Key issues regarding the resumption of oil exports through the Turkish port include the methodologies for calculating oil quantities, payment processes, the share of international companies managing the crude oil from the Kurdistan region, as well as salaries, fees, and customs matters. Delegations from both parties are actively working to resolve these issues ahead of any planned export operations.
Context of Oil Export Resumption
In a notable development, Oil Minister Hayyan Abdel-Ghani unexpectedly announced in February the intention to resume oil exports from Kurdistan. This decision aims to resolve a prolonged dispute lasting approximately two years, which had resulted in a disruption of supplies, with over 300,000 barrels per day previously entering global markets via Turkey.
The collaborative efforts between the Federal Ministry of Oil and regional authorities underscore the significance of resolving these outstanding issues to stabilize and enhance oil export operations as both parties aim for a mutually beneficial resolution.
